Every year the world of film is celebrated and scrutinised with the coveted British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) and Academy Awards (The Oscars). And then visual effects specifically is celebrated with The Visual Effects Society’s (VES) own awards. From best actor and actress, to best animated film and documentary, each facet of the film industry has a chance to have global recognition. The 2018 nominees list for all three awards have now been announced, and here we take a look at the films in the running for the best visual effects (VFX) awards – with Blade Runner 2049, Star Wars and War For the Planet of the Apes set to win big.

Blade Runner 2049, Dunkirk, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, The Shape of Water and War For the Planet of the Apes are nominated for the Special VFX BAFTA award, with winners announced on February 18.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the five remaining films in the running for the VFX category for the 90th Academy Awards, held on March 4. They are: Blade Runner 2049, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, Kong: Skull Island, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and War for the Planet of the Apes. Outstanding visual effects in a photoreal feature nominees for the VES awards are exactly the same this year.

The Visual Effects Society will be hosting its awards on February 13. It’s announced nominees for its 16th annual awards in 24 categories. Top contenders are no surprises, with Blade Runner 2049 and War for the Planet of the Apes tied with the most feature film nominations. Games of Thrones has also collected a few nominations. You can see the whole list of nominations here.

Here, we feature the trailer, VFX breakdown reels major contending films (that are currently available), and which VFX studios were behind the stunning visuals.

Blade Runner 2049

BAFTA Special VFX nominee
VFX Oscar nominee

VES Awards nominee (for multiple awards)

Trailer: